Slips, trips and falls at work are often caused by the simplest things such as spillages on the floor, uneven surfaces, bad lighting and obstructions in a passageway. In the most dangerous scenarios, however – for example the construction industry – falls at work can be life threatening and possibly fatal.
The Health and Safety Executive provide guidelines for employers to prevent dangerous falls at work under the Work at Height Regulations, and other laws are also in place to safeguard employees.
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (2007) employers have a legal responsibility to protect their employees from falls at work. These regulations promote proper training and supervision, effective maintenance of the work environment and the provision of adequate machinery and equipment. Irrespective of the industry in which you are employed, if you have suffered an injury from a fall at work where your employer was even partially negligent, you should be able to claim compensation.
In the event of falls at work resulting in serious injury, an ambulance would normally be called to the scene. However, when you have had any accident in the course of your employment, you should always seek medical attention even when you believe your injuries are minor.
Falls at work can damage sensitive areas of the body – such as the spine and skull – and a precautionary x-ray may reveal greater damage than you first thought. Compensation for falls at work is only applicable if you can prove that you have suffered an injury due to negligence by your employer. The first element of making a fall at work claim is ascertaining the severity of your injury.
Claiming Compensation for Falls at Work
Any accident that takes place in the workplace should be recorded in an “Accident Report Book” and claims for falls at work should have a copy of the report attached to them as well as a copy of your medical report. These details are sent with an application to the Injuries Board Ireland for their assessment and they will assess damages based on the level of your injuries and any “Special” damages to cover out-of-pocket expenses and loss of earnings. Although a straightforward procedure, issues arise where an employer contests liability for your fall at work, compensation assessments by the Injuries Board Ireland are inadequate to meet your needs or the employer rejects the Injury Board of Ireland´s assessment.
These are just a few of the reasons why 90% of people claiming compensation for falls at work choose to use the services of a specialist personal injury* claims solicitor. Not only will the solicitor be able to assist you with these issues but should your employer´s insurance company approach you with an offer for early settlement, the solicitor will be able to determine whether it is a fair amount and negotiate a higher settlement if not. In fact, more than a third of personal injury claims for falls at work are resolved successfully before the Injuries Board Ireland has made its assessment.
In order to provide accessible advice for people considering claiming compensation for falls at work, we have established a free advice telephone service.
This service enables people who have suffered falls at work to discuss their personal circumstances with an experienced personal injury* claims solicitor, ask questions in relation to their claim and receive helpful and accurate advice. The service is provided with total confidentiality and there is no obligation on you to proceed with a claim for compensation once you have spoken with us.
If you cannot speak now please fill in the form below and we will call you back.
What You Can Expect When You Call
We are fully aware of the serious injuries that can result from falls at work and appreciate that you may still be in pain or shocked from your accident when you call. You will be pleased to discover that we dispense our advice in clear English and you are welcome to stop us and ask us to explain something again if you have not fully understood it the first time.
We will ask you to explain the circumstances surrounding your fall at work – how it came to happen, what injuries you sustained, what medical treatment was administered and why you believe your employer was contributory to your injuries through his negligence. We will also listen carefully as you describe how your fall at work has affected your quality of life.
Wherever possible, we will make a preliminary assessment for your fall at work compensation claim, and advise you whether you have a case which is worth your while to pursue, how long we anticipate the claim would take to process and what level of fall at work compensation we would expect you to receive.
Our solicitors usually close the initial conversation by suggesting a selection of options for you to consider and providing information that you may wish to follow up on. The decision whether you wish to proceed with a claim for falls at work compensation is entirely up to you and you may wish to take a day or two to consider your choices.
The first action you should consider is picking up the telephone and calling our free advice service. You will find our solicitors very helpful and understanding when claiming compensation for falls at work and it is an opportunity for you to clear up some of the questions that may have been going through your head since the accident.
Our lines are open twenty-four hours a day and we also operate a call-back service. Therefore, if it is inconvenient for you to call right now, please leave your contact details in the box at the bottom of the page and one of our friendly and resourceful team will be back in touch at a more suitable time.